A simple sunset. Predictable. On time. I digress. But, when I stepped outside the house this evening, there was an unmistakable Call to Worship
The Call
So Much….Continued
Several people asked me for the music to the lyrics of the last blog (“Story of the song So Much”)so I have posted a YouTube video link here and the words under. Don’t let the strange looking old guy fool you…I’m playing the keys
SO MUCH
- I remember a time, when I was so close to you
We’d sit and talk for hours upon end
And I remember thinking how you must love me
SO Much
- I remember all the things we did together
I never went anywhere without you
And I remember thinking how I loved you
So Much
- I remember when my friends got tired of listening to me
Cause all I ever talked about was you.
And I remember telling you, I love you
So Much
Chorus) But here I am, I’ve drifted away
I’m so sorry I must say, I’ve been living without you.
Here I am, I left long ago, and I’m out on my own
Yet I know that you love me,
So Much
- Just the other day, I heard a little knock on my door
I said, go away I want to be alone.
I thought I heard a little voice whisper “I Love You
SO Much
Bridge: I listen to the echos in the chambers of my heart
Oh the emptiness that lives in my soul
I see the hollow eyes watching me from the mirror
These eyes need love again…they need you again
Repeat Chorus
End: Oh- I know that you love me
Yes I know that you love me
So Much
Words and music by Gary Fultz
So Much
Awhile back (yes a few years) I met with a group of guys weekly for prayer and accountability. we met in a local church, played some basketball in the gym, laughed, talked about life, shared dreams, prayed together and helped one another on various home and vehicle projects. Life was good for most of us. We were concerned for one of our younger guys (lets call him Fred).
Fred fit in well but gave off signals once in awhile that he wanted more than life was giving him. He seemed almost jealous of, well, most things the rest of us had. I wish we had really seen the depths of his dissatisfaction. Fred needed to mature, be a husband and be a dad.
One Sunday after church, Fred and his young family was spending the afternoon at one of his wealthy friends place and commented how someday he would own the same size monster fishing boat as soon as he could save up the money. His friend smiled and told him it was nothing but trouble to him and rather than letting it sit in the barn he told Fred if he wanted it it was his. So Fred got his dream boat, after going to the bank to borrow big money to buy a vehicle that could pull the boat. Was Fred now happy?
I still think back to when we begin to walk out of the church, Fred would ask me to sit down to the piano and “Play that song ,uh, SO MUCH, I need to hear it” he would say. So I would play and sing a song I had written, it seemed, for him. He would cry, wipe his eyes a few times, sniffle, mumble sorry guys and walk out. YA, it was a big clue.
SO MUCH
- I remember a time, when I was so close to you
We’d sit and talk for hours upon end
And I remember thinking how you must love me
SO Much
- I remember all the things we did together
I never went anywhere without you
And I remember thinking how I loved you
So Much
- I remember when my friends got tired of listening to me
Cause all I ever talked about was you.
And I remember telling you, I love you
So Much
Chorus) But here I am, I’ve drifted away
I’m so sorry I must say, I’ve been living without you.
Here I am, I left long ago, and I’m out on my own
Yet I know that you love me,
So Much
- Just the other day, I heard a little knock on my door
I said, go away I want to be alone.
I thought I heard a little voice whisper “I Love You
SO Much
Bridge: I listen to the echos in the chambers of my heart
Oh the emptiness that lives in my soul
I see the hollow eyes watching me from the mirror
These eyes need love again…they need you again
Repeat Chorus
End: Oh- I know that you love me
Yes I know that you love me
So Much
Words and music by Gary Fultz (1997)
Down the road of time, Fred walked out on his family and his God who still loves him
SO MUCH
Some day I will record this song, just in case there is another Fred out there. Maybe you need to know that God wants an intimate relationship with you. He loves you
Add on:I just recorded it. Click here… https://youtu.be/-5XgJcrKdmA
SO MUCH
Gary
Continue reading So MuchLove language to a thorn
I had to share a picture from our front yard. Such symbolism!
I often wonder why Jesus took a crown of thorns. I wonder why he took thorny me.
I marvel at the symbolism of the picture. The thorns are no match for the Christ who died for us with a crown of thorns. Then he takes our heart of thorns and washes us whiter than snow.
Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. (Isaiah 118)
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
Gary
Sometimes
Lately God has been speaking. I think I am listening. Am I listening? Sometimes he even highlights the clouds outside my window to get my attention. I’m really not ready to write yet, so I will listen more
Lets listen to God more than sometimes in 2020
Gary
Wander into Winter Wonder
The snow quit. Winds died. Morning came after freezing fog. All was frosted. Highlights rolled in with the coming sun. Skating to work on the roads might be the best option in freezing temperatures. Look at this mornings artwork from God’s perspective. life’s deadliest winter storms will end. Only God can make beauty of it.
The cold snows of life, a prelude to beauty
Our vision is limited. All we can see is snow
The sun is coming, the son is coming
We may be frozen solid but God begins to warm our hearts
Only God can warm our cold hearts and make beauty of life’s winters.
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live. (Psalm 116:1-2)
Gary
Pictures taken this Monday morning after the storm
From The Woods
I’ve been in the woods and quite absent from the internet. I’m noticeably different (self diagnosis). Seemingly random thoughts tug on my mind while winters crystals defy the sun. The winter sun’s angle allows the snow to direct any radiant heat back into outer space. The sun has gone south for the winter. It’s below freezing.
I wonder about the winter seasons in my life, when the Son seems ineffective in my life. My life’s edges are frosty and cold to those around me. I am indifferent. Maybe I should get closer to the Son??
A beautiful little pond, frozen in the woods. I’m sorry for all the brush in the way, it just grows up and multiplies. Before you know it the brush gets mighty thick, thorny and impassable in ones soul. Life is like that you know. Sometimes our beauty is hidden or terribly neglected. Cute little sprouts take over one’s life. Sometimes our prayer should be “Lord please brush out my life, I place it in your care”. It may hurt.
Somehow, when we think we are just a branch with one ole dried up leaf hanging on in the cold, God brings forth buds. They are there. It may be dormant in the cold but packed with nutrition for lives looking for browse. I’ve watched deer and grouse eat these like candy. Like the pain of thawing out one’s frozen fingers, Thawing a heart is really tough. I know.
So I let go of the last dried up frozen leaf. Let my trophies go. It hurts.
I Let the new creation bud. I Let those who may browse. I Let go and face the Son.
I Face the Sun and the woods glows in it’s light. Every frozen crystal reflects it’s Glory.
I encourage you to let the Son come into your life and take complete control. Even in your seasons of coldest winter you can glow in His radiance. I know. I’m quite different (God’s diagnosis).
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
I shall meet again with my God in the morning as I do every morning. Winter in one’s soul is just a season. Sometimes in life’s coldest moments God lays his hand on our heart. I know.
Gary
I Love You To Debt
I’m an introvert. I may not always act the part but when I see lots of strangers in the big city (for example) I really see a sea of ice. I don’t see “friendly” on faces. It’s a fact, I don’t always like to be around people.
So when I was reading Romans 13 this morning I was nodding my head yes when Paul says to obey authority, pay your taxes and don’t owe anyone anything; I’m good so far. I’m still nodding yes.
Except The continuing debt…..
(I’m not nodding yes anymore) Romans 13:8 says “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another…” I looked at this twice and said “What? I’m in debt?”
I’m sorry. I’m stuck on this continuing debt thing. If Love is money, say God’s currency, then I’m in debt and cannot get out. In fact there is a daily debt added and I’m in deep. No matter how much I love, show love, pay love money to my neighbor and fellow mankind I have just entered an alternate reality.
A verse popped into my mind “If anyone be in Christ they are a new creation...and have entered into a new reality” (well my remake of 2nd Corinthians 5:17 and I think I was frowning here).
Read on Gary…“for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law” In other words the currency of love balances the checkbook in Gods eyes.
It’s dangerous to think outside the book but I have questions and you might have some thoughts.
So if we start every day in debt, say $200 in debt and do nothing does my debt compound? Does a smile count for more than a dollar? Do I really have to be proactive today? Do introverts have a reduced debt? Is the national debt bigger than the love debt?
Look where I just went! Am I already trying to game the system? I think so.
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another”. John 13:34
Hey this love God and your neighbor stuff, It’s a really big deal in the market place of the eternal. We have the God Breathed book and the Holy Spirit to teach us all things. Let us be entrepreneurs about loving to debt
Gary
Note: This currency is alive but the wanted poster is out and Satan wants it dead.
Another Language
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:29
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2
Don’t worry, We do not have our lights up yet, and will not until December sometime.. I chose last years picture of a grandson communicating without words.
When Christ says “Learn of me”, I often think we who call ourselves “Followers of Jesus” honestly think Christ meant believe the right information and be good people.
I think my grandson in the picture above is going to say “sorry” for something he did. Does anyone here believe he is sorry?
It takes time to learn another language. My second language teacher was really excited when I told her I had a dream in Spanish. She figured The language had finally become me. I didn’t tell her it was more like a nightmare where I didn’t really understand what was being said, and it was all about me…in Spanish.
When we resemble the meek and lowly. When we use our hands, feet, mouth and resources for others that would normally go to taking care of…well us, is that not a part of presenting our bodies as living sacrifices?
I don’t have to go far for an example. Marriage, raising a family, neighbors and the work place all saw the language of Jesus in my mom and dad.
Everyone wants what mom and dad had. It was not so much that they had Jesus. Jesus was just the start. Actually Jesus had them and they put each other first. I have stories too numerous to count of people who wanted what they had. I witnessed radical changed lives from these two salt and light people. Neighbors, friends and strangers were attracted to them. This picture says a lot and that’s who they were.
Do you want what they had? You need Jesus to have you, and He will teach you His language. It’s different, out of this world, counter intuitive, powerful and most of all so attractive people around you will want what you have when you speak without words Christ’s language. Don’t worry, you get to talk when you earn the right to be heard.
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32
Gary
Sorry, I forgot to mention that there will be trolls, hurtful people and those who hate Christ’s language. It will be worth it though.
please add your helpful comments below.
Shaky Faith
It’s raining said the farmer as he spit into the wind…(An old saying on the farm). Yes, it’s a perception saying.
I took the above picture in the wind on my regular camera settings for still shots. Not very clear is it? In fact I spent part of the afternoon taking high speed pictures and captured some excellent mediocre shots. My subject matter was all over the place, often in the same picture.
This brings me to some questions we must all ask ourselves if we claim to be people of faith. “Does the subject of your faith change? When you feel like your faith is on shaky ground is it because your faith is really on your circumstances? recent events? other people? your faith community? The cataclysmic event that just happened in your life?
I took a picture of a rock in our yard. It doesn’t move in the wind. Awhile back I wrote on it but that’s another time (The rocks cry out one of my first blogs way back).
Here is the deal. When others see us, watch us and take a look at our faith. what people see is a blurred confusing image if the subject of our faith is not Jesus Christ. He is our Rock and our salvation. We are to fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith and put to the side everything that gets in the way Hebrews 12:2
When Our Faith is all on Jesus, others can still see Jesus through our storm.
I put together some pictures taken in high winds from this afternoon. They may not be perfect but each one was in a protected niche from most of the wind. God is our shelter, rock, provide, protector,and I could go on…You get the picture. (Click for slide show)
I imagine God shelters us in ways we do not even see or understand. Consider a few lines from the old hymn “He hideth My Soul”
A wonderful Saviour is Jesus my Lord
A wonderful Saviour to me
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
Where rivers of pleasure I see
A wonderful Saviour to me
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
Where rivers of pleasure I see
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land
He hideth my life in the depths of his love
And covers me there with his hand (repeat)
That shadows a dry, thirsty land
He hideth my life in the depths of his love
And covers me there with his hand (repeat)
A wonderful Saviour is Jesus my Lord
He taketh my burden a-way
He holdeth me up and I shall not be moved
He giveth me strength as my day
He taketh my burden a-way
He holdeth me up and I shall not be moved
He giveth me strength as my day
One more thought: I put my camera on a tripod for getting clear pictures whenever I can. People who watch our lives to see if Jesus is real (and they do) often have enough things shaking their world as it is. Hey, who among us sees clearly? Let’s not present a moving target of faith for shaky people trying to get the picture.
When Our Faith is all on Jesus, others can still see Jesus through their storm.
Gary
Check out the video of the haven of rest quartet G.W posted in the comments section. “He Hideth My Soul”
Gods Ways are...Different 